The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-01-03
BOYCOTTING PHIL ARMOUR.
Points from a Secret Circular Issued by
Two Knights of Labor Assemblies.
The Great Meat Packer Denounced as a "Demi-
neering Autoerat' and His Goods Declared
To Be Unpalatable and Indigestible.
THE ARMOUR BOYCOTT.
Secret Circular Denouncing the Packe
and Boycottine His Meats.

and Boycottine His Meats
special to the indianapolis Journal-
CHICAGO Jan. "A secret circular has been
issued by district assemblies Nos. 81 and 136.
Knights of Labor, of Chicago, as a boycott
against p. D. Armour & Co. 1t was sent out
some time ago. but has been kept profound
secret. from the day of its issuance, Nov. IL.
until to-day, when copy of the document fell
into the hands of reporter. tits quite lengthy,
setting out with sketch of the stockyards
troubles. 1t says:
The eight-hour movement of last spring eliminated
IN the establishment of that beneficial system in the
Union Stoekvards, commonly known as Packngtown.
L. d. Armour, the largest pork and beef packer in
the world, only yielded when, through combination
or circumstances found it impossible to do other
WISE The eight hour system gave general satsfac-
ton to the and nowhere upon this continent were
there more cheerful or willing lot of employees to
perform their allotted task than the men of Packing
town. After the second week of the inauguration of
the eighthour day, the men had reached and passed
ing this, P. d. Armour plotted day
and night to overthrow a system which
at no pecuniary disadvantage Why? Simply be-
cause this domnering commercial autocrat had, for
once been forced to yield point to his workers with
ganized the packers into solid combination and
placed each member under heavy bond to stand by
the pool On Oct. H., the packers demanded a
return to ten hours, which caused lockout for
week. the men returning by order of t. B. Barry,
member of the general executive board of the
desandne that the retreat was but tenn
porary, and that effort would be made
in the future when the eighthour system should
be reclaimed. Scarcely had the men returned when
Armour 81 Go. harassed them to sign iron-clad
agreement in which they asked to their
allegiance to all labor organizations particularly the
Knights of Labor It m ust be remem bered that when
T. Is. Barry ordered return to the ten hour system
for the time being. this order did not apply to the
baaf g nj
still working the eight-hour system and employ
in round numbers about 3 500 On Monday,
Nov. l. these two houses also demanded a return to
Ten hours; the men refused, and lockout ensued.
which lasted week before the general strike
ordered, which order issued in conformity with
general belief that if the eghthour day be
claimed now was the time.
The contest began On the hand stood the 20 900
wage-workers many of whom had given years and
years of toll in building up Phil Armour's millions.
working early and late including Sunday, with little
or no time for thought recreation. On the other
side stood Phil Armour and his pool backed up by the
militia OF Illinois and Pinkerons assassins who but
few weeks ago. murdered in cold blood, without any
provocation whatever one of our esteemed citizens
Terrence Begey These mercenaries of capital were
called out four days before the lockout occurred
coerce our workingmen in the of the law, when
on our statute books stands one that is a
dead letter, which states that eight hours
shall constitute days work Phil Armour. at whose
instigation these cutthroats employed, is
morally responsible for Terrence Begleys DEATH Phil
Armour, who CANDLES in puts" and calls, con
trary to the laws of God and man, who puts the
far at a disadvantage when he buys. and calls
for extortiOnate bull prices when he sells; Phil
Armour, who organizes pools and rings for the pur
pose of fleeing the public all the necessaries of
life, crowding all smaller competitors to the wall
spreading ruin and disaster everywhere, demands
that the organized workers will their pledges
to the Knights of Labor kindred associations and
become his willing slaves, the following will
show.
Reference is then made to the resolutions
adopted by the Packers Association boycotting
labor organizations also, to the fact that they
were publicly rescinded. But" says the cir
GUAR, "for the purpose of deception they were
replaced by another agreement almost equally
obnoxious, while tho importation Of 'scab labor,
black and white, still continues, clearly proving
the fact that the design of Phil Armour is to
victimize our brethren, many Of whom have
Eesn in his employ for years, and have commit
ted other offense except that they were loyal
to the cause of labor. Phil Armour. who con-
trolls hogs and cattle pork and beef. now at
tempts to crush organized labor
Then follows the appeal, or boycott, in the
following singular terms:
Feow-workmen, will you stand by and see it done!
IL the instincts of liberty not dead within you
you will stand by and let this domneering autocrat
know that while he may be enabled to employ scab
labor American society will refuse to eat his meats
when to do is at the expense of human liberty and
Justice. We do not believe that his meat is
good it used to be- We find that it is unpaata
bic and ndigestibe put up under such circumstances
and satisfied that every loyal worker will share il
that opinion. We therefore ask the assistance of al
friends.
| Assembly 81 is COMPOSED almost entirely Of
| local assemblies in the town of Lake. and No
| 1876 is made up of lake sailors.